VLOG #001 – prelude to a new adventure – 18 September 2017

Craven, here – introducing a new series idea I’ve been dabbling with – a VLOG of my life. Maybe you could call it “like sands through an hourglass – these are the days of my life”. Bad sitcom reference, I know.

I’m an entrepreneur, IT guy, casual gamer, blogger, outdoor hiker, occasional mountain biker. I currently live in South Africa. I was born here, have had a few businesses, but my latest has been the most successful.

After twenty-something years of one project, started in 1997, my business Kondura Technologies,
an IT consulting business, one of the most successful here in Port Elizabeth, South Africa,
it’s time for a rebirth. As they say, “Like a Phoenix, I will rise from the ashes”
A change. A new adventure! Come with me.

I’m starting a VLOG series. I’m new at this. I’m no Casey Neistat.

Not all parts of the VLOG series I intend to be post will be this scripted, but I intend on
trying to deliver the best content, advice, I can to keep you interested. This is the prelude,
so I didn’t want to do a half-job.

My IT knowledge extends from management, to software, to programming knowledge to forensic
investigation to network design, marketing, sale and implementation and administration.
I am technically minded and a limited DIY type of guy. I have incredible focus once I commit to something.

I’ve made mistakes along the way. One of those is never taking leave for more
than a weekend in 20 years of my business. Yup, it’s true. Anyone else would have burnt out ages ago.
Pretty much lived according to the philosophy of “don’t tell me I’m burning the candle at both ends.
Tell me how to get more wax!” It’s now time to make some changes.

My clients have and always will be very important to me and I have always offered the
most help I could, tried to look after their business interests as if they were my own
even been at their beck and call taking calls after-hours. Unfortunately, for the past few years,
I feel business and personal life have blurred and I’ve neglected myself and my girlfriend
I need to step back and re-assess life, delegate some responsibilities and make some changes.

I need a short break. My future clients and customers need me at my best.

In a particularly stressful start to the year, I went on a junk-food binge as I had limited time
during the day due to being short staffed. I’ve had put on a bit of weight, been on a diet since 5th
September 2017 and now that I’m 5Kg (11 lb) lighter, I started some light weight training today.

It’s only been two weeks, but I feel better, stronger, faster already – both mentally and physically.
I still have a while to go and need to be at my physical and mental best for the challenges coming up.

They say the brightest stars burn twice as bright, but only half as long and I’ve been fortunate in business
to have burnt so very brightly. I’m not burnt out, yet. Not intending too anytime soon, either.

However, the reality is that although I am still mentally, spiritually, passionately that 26 year old
guy who started his most successful business. I am not under any delusion that my 45 year old self is
doing just fine to re-invent his life all over for the third or fourth time without some physical rest and enhancement.

I’m taking care of it. I’m in great health, in a great frame of mind – just a bit chubby for my liking.

One really positive thing I have going for me is I anything I now tackle, I do with considerably more knowledge,
experience and mental tools than a younger “me”. I’ve acquired and learnt so many useful tools and techniques
that can be a applied to a multitude of situations that I’ve amassed along the way which will more than likely
make me even more successful.

For a new project or idea to succeed, it can take 18 months to 5 years of solid mental and physical
investment to be successful. There is no such thing as easy money.

Odds are heavily stacked against me as I decide the way forward, but smart planning, focused hard work
and the ability to adapt and learn have always been my strong points.
Maybe just as I learnt my survival skills from mentors, you can pick these up too?

I live in a country where political prejudice is rife and now hampers my business growth and more than
likely even my future in my business and even this country. I’m one of the few IT companies in our small city
that hasn’t been wiped out by the focussed economic genocide that is intensifying as our politicians
call for “giving back the land” and “radical economic transformation”

Daily, the struggle increases as I find myself at a huge economic disadvantage and penalized heavily,
threatened daily by our government. It’s time for a re-assessment.

A major series of events have occurred in my life – an epiphany was experienced and decision has been made.

After a long process of research, consulting and vetting, I’ve found what I believe to be a
compatible partner, business manager for my business as I make some much needed changes.

Moving forward, I am merging my business, training up a new manager, and once I am sure my
clients, customers and my employees are secure, in good hands, I then intend on taking a sabbatical
to renew my focus – later perhaps taking over a more consulting based role.

Watch this space as I gradually share parts of my life as it unfolds.

A few cliff-hangers will be forthcoming.

One footnote is that due to the nature of the predicament I find myself in, I will initially
keep some things close to my chest and reveal more and more as the series progresses, but I hope you
are patient and stick around and comment as it unfolds – and enjoy the ride. Exciting times ahead.

I feel my life experience gives me a lot to offer. One of the greatest rewards of knowledge is
sharing it through telling a story. It’s a story I hope you, dear viewer/reader can take
something away from and grow, develop your own ideas.

Along the way, I’ll offer my opinion, share my experience and advice on business development,
relationships, technology, character development, my exercise routine (yes, even weight loss) and
progress, daily life and perspective on all manner of things.

I’ll share the day to day stresses of managing a business, perils, opinions on news articles
and business developments in South Africa and try share “what it’s been like here”

My girlfriend and I will also be sharing awesome wildlife, hiking from trips we have planned,
generally having fun as we explore national parks in South Africa over the next few months.
I am even purchasing a 4k video camera and a decent “VLOG” type phone for capturing spur of the
moment thoughts and events.

I’m 45 in a few days and the next few months, years are going to be hard. Really hard.
I’m planning new things, new ways of doing things and even changing diet, exercise routine.

Stick around as I discuss my successes, my failures, regrets and maybe you’ll gain something
worth learning from all this.

My intention is not to be a life or business coach, nor is it to become the next
great YouTuber. I’m simply just using YouTube and Google for what it’s intended
(besides making money for google) and that is sharing (for lack of a better word)

This series be a varied experience. It will be mostly unscripted.

#1 Priority is something worth watching, for you to find value.
#2 is to attempt to make it entertaining without being too negative.
#3 is for your feedback.
#4 is for therapeutic reasons, relaxation and fun. It’s good to vent.
#5 is to improve my video editing skills.

As I want to share something as quick as possible, thoughts while they are fresh, these video logs will take the form of three formats:

1. VLOG #: The main series – VLOG’s with slightly better editing and commentary focused on specific topics or even just giving my opinion.
These will appear as I have entertaining, worthwhile info.
2. OPINION: VLOGS also with slightly better editing than SNIPPETS – my thoughts on news, events, etc. May discuss the week.
3. SNIPPETS: short impromptu unscripted video clips of my life including arbitrary footage with limited commentary.
I may see something, want to share something and I’ll do a quick clip on a cell phone. Unedited. May be cat vids (warning).

There may be perspectives on South Africa, daily frustrations, culture, my history,
my business, my life, likes and dislikes, sources of information and habits.

As for a schedule, I am aiming for a process of not making me resent / dread making something. I don’t want this to feel like a
job or you to get the perception that I’m just making the video for the sake of posting something.

I will try VLOG’s once a week or every two weeks. No point doing something if I have nothing to say.
SNIPPETS will appear quite regularly and be random.
OPINION pieces will generally be impromptu sparked by something I read or learn and want to quickly do a video on sharing.

Negative emotion and rants will be avoided wherever possible. Negative topics that appear, however will be discussed
in OPINION pieces calmly and I’ll generally ask your opinion. I’m done with the political issue in South Africa.
It works against me. Nothing I can do about it here. No point in being like the masses and whining daily.

So, if you’re interested in this “Reality TV” style VLOG, please like and share, repost this video on your favourite
forums or social media, subscribe and stick around and most importantly, leave a comment below. Don’t forget to also click
that YouTube bell icon so that you are notified if I go live (yeah, it may happen) or when I upload a new video.

If something in particular interests you about South Africa or my life, where I can reveal
information, share or give an opinion, I will make a note and try my best to get to it in a future video.

This is not just a VLOG, but also a conversation (as Philip de Franco says). Please comment.
Currently, however, I have no intention on becoming a news service.

I will try my best to keep it interesting and entertaining and will listen to constructive suggestions and advice.
Trolls will usually just get banned or deleted.

So, thanks for listening / reading / watching. This is going to be interesting.

Stick around and catch you later,

~ Craven

This entry was posted on September 22, 2017 at 01:00 and is filed under VLOG. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.